WHO

In but a few years, the Verona Shakespeare Fringe (VSF) has become a significant stop on the European Shakespeare Festivals circuit. We’re unique, there’s no better way to say it. The festival blurs perceived boundaries between practical and academic Shakespearean work and creates a lively intersection of new possibilities in Shakespearean practice and scholarship.

The Verona Shakespeare Fringe seeks productions and project proposals for its 2026 Festival held in Verona, July 20-26: please consider joining us! The Fringe is organised by the Skenè Research Centre at the University of Verona, in collaboration with the Conservatorio di Verona Evaristo Felice Dall’Abaco (Verona, IT), European Shakespeare Festivals Network, Faculty of Dramatic Arts (Belgrade, SRB), Fondazione Teatro Atlantide (Verona, IT), Guilford School of Acting (Surrey, UK), HamletScenen (DEN), Ippogrifo Produzioni (Verona, IT), Teatro Ristori (Verona, IT), Teatro Scientifico – Teatro Laboratorio (Verona, IT), and Westmont College (US). VSF takes place on the same days as the Shakespeare and the Mediterranean Summer School organised by Skenè. The VSF is at once lab, studio, crucible, incubator, hothouse, and platform. It values experimentation and conversation, expression and debate, and the lively exchange of ideas.

Since this year’s edition will be a special one, as it will be integrated into the WSC, only premieres will be accepted:
 https://www.wsc2026.org/ 

Companies will be contacted by the Skenè team who will take care of the organisation of the festival. For enquiries please contact vsf.skene@ateneo.univr.it ⟶ This year is especially exciting, as the VSF runs concurrently with the World Shakespeare Congress, where hundreds of Shakespearean scholars will meet to discuss and present the contemporary relevance of Shakespeare’s plays. The 2026 Fringe will certainly be a once-in-a- lifetime experience. Please see detailed information about WSC here.

WHAT

The Verona Shakespeare Fringe seeks proposals that fit the festival’s vision for new, untried, untested, and/or innovative Shakespearean productions that are animated by some combination of the following:

• New, original, and/or experimental approaches to Shakespeare’s plays and poetry;
• Artists, researchers, and companies engaged in intercultural, multi-lingual, intergenerational, or international work;
• Devised Theatre;
• International co-productions;
• Intersectional work in terms of live and digital performance, and World Premiere performances.

Since this year’s edition will be a special one, as it will be integrated into the WSC, only premieres will be accepted.

WHERE

The VSF will be hosted at the Teatro SS. Trinità, located in the heart of Verona, near the Arena. VSF participants will engage with students, scholars, audience members, and other artists in a rich exchange of performances, Q&A sessions, and social events. (For further information on the venue, please see the technical rider below)

DEADLINE

January 15, 2026

Selection process and results:

By the end of January short-listed candidates will be notified with a view to an online meeting with the ADs and the selection committee;
In early February results will be notified via email (vsf.skene@ateneo.univr.it).

USEFUL LINKS

Please see detailed information about Skenè Research Centre here

Please see detailed information about VSF here

Please see detailed information about SaM here

Apply to Perform at the 2025 Verona Shakespeare Fringe!

The call is open to international professional individuals, groups, or companies.

Note: The festival is not open to student companies. The festival accepts applications for original, yet-to-be-performed-work. Each group or individual can submit one proposal only.

HOW TO APPLY

Submissions must include:

• artistic bio of the company or the artist;
• technical rider of the performance (please check the technical rider of the venue for details);
• requisite video trailers and photographs
  • For Performances created to premiere at the Verona Shakespeare Fringe Festival: 90-120; second trailer of a previous show created by the artists or company. Please include a short extract of a previous performance with actors speaking.
    Please do not submit trailer scored solely with music;
  • (Since this year’s edition will be a special one, as it will be integrated into the WSC, only premieres will be accepted.)
• acceptance to provide subtitles in English and Italian;
• declaration of compliance with visa requirements;
• duration of the set-up and disassembly of the show;
• application form filled in with all the required details.
• To propose a project, production, or idea, complete the application form and send it to vsf.skene@ateneo.univr.it

REQUIREMENTS

COMPANIES ARE REQUIRED TO:

• Participate in interviews and Q&A sessions (possibly on the day after the performance) – this is a necessary condition of festival acceptance. Selected companies need to organise travel so that 1-2 members of the company are available for the scheduled Q&A.
• Promote the Festival and their show;
• Participate in and share VSF-curated promotional videos, trailers, and short documentaries;
• Provide both the English and the Italian subtitles as well as the script by the end of June

THE FESTIVAL’S CONDITIONS AND PROVISIONS INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING:

• Teatro SS. Trinità (See Rider below; please make sure that your show can comply with the
• venue’s space and equipment availability);
• 1,000 to 3,000 euros per performance, depending on type of performance. The amount may be subject to tax withholding based on the international conventions between Italy and the countries of the applicants;
• Participation of the companies in interviews and Q&A sessions;
• Organisation and promotion of the event;
• Technical equipment and personnel as outlined in the technical rider; companies will be charged for any additional requests;
• Video-projector, laptop and a person (if necessary) in charge of running the English and Italian subtitles following a detailed script; companies are required to provide both the
• English and Italian subtitles as well as the script.

FULL INFORMATION AVAILABLE HERE: https://skene-veronashakespearefringefestival.dlls.univr.it/call-for-applications-2026-edition/